Silent Days, Silent Dreams by Allen Say

 

CITATION: Say, A. (2017). Silent days, silent dreams. Arthur A. Levine Books.

CHARACTERS: The story is about James Castle, a deaf, mute, and autistic artist. He is shown as being creative, observant, and expressive, although he was nonverbal. His family members were complex and showed support at times but didn’t always understand James. James’ disability was portrayed without being tragic or a cliche, which allows for a balanced perspective. 

James is shown as having challenges due to his limited access to appropriate education and communication tools during the early 1900s. James eventually develops his own form of communication through his art. 

While the story reflects a single culture, a rural American family, it does focus on those with disabilities and their cross-cultural interactions. Allen Say mentions that he was interested in James due to their shared interactions with others while being “different”.  

SETTING: The story is set in early 1900s in Idaho and is based on the real life of James Castle. It accurately reflects a pre-modern rural America. There are no advanced technologies and a huge emphasis on handmade materials and simple living. Part of the story takes place a school for deaf children. The policies and procedures of the school were aligned with how a traditional deaf school would have been ran. The pictures of the clothing and housing are accurate to early 1900s rural life.  

James’ setting is typically isolated and contains limited resources or access to specialized education. His family is working-class and his home is reflective of that. James uses his environment to his advantage when drawing. The setting reinforces the theme of isolation and expression. 

CULTURAL VALUES: The story highlights the cultural experience of a deaf or nonverbal person living in the early 1900s. The educational setting reflects typical practices of the time. The focus for the school was on oral speech rather than teaching sign language. The story does not mix unrelated cultural elements and sticks to the specific time and place. 

The book is focused on a main character with a disability and provides representation to a marginalized group of people. It encourages readers to appreciate different ways of thinking, learning, and communicating. The book also promotes empathy and inclusion by showing that intelligence and expression can exist beyond traditional norms. 

OVERALL QUALITY: The book is a biographical picture book and does a great job at telling a true story in a very accessible way. The structure of the story begins when James is an infant and follows him as he grows into a man. The text is paired with meaningful visuals.  

The illustrations are by Allen Say and are reflective of James Castle’s real work. Say’s wife created copies of some of Jame’s paper sculptures to display on the pages. The visuals help to deepen the understanding of James’ environment and his internal world. 

REVIEWS & AWARDS: 

• Kirkus Reviews, 2017: “With sensitive text and powerful illustrations, Say brings this remarkable, inspiring life to poignant reality” 
• Schneider Family Book Award Winner, 2018
• Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2017 

CONNECTIONS: 

• Students can attempt to communicate without words by drawing or creating collages to get a message across. They can reflect on if it was more difficult or easier to communicate this way. 
• Students can read El Deafo by Cece Bell to compare the treatment of deaf people from past to present.